Game counter



April s, 1937. J. D. MCCLURE 2,076,409

GAME COUNTER lFiled Marc l, 1935 2 Smeets-Sheat` 1 INVENTOR. :JAY DMCLurzr April 6, 1937. .1. D. MCCLURE GAME COUNTER Filed March l, 1935 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. dm D M Cuna? Patented Apr. 6, 1937 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE GAME COUNTER Application March 1, 1935, Serial No.8,820

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a mechanical device for adding numbers whichwill accurately display the total of the numbers so added; which isaccurate in its movement; which is easily operated;

which has few operating parts; which is convenient in use; and which iseconomical to manufacture.

The principal object of my invention is to provide an adding device orcounter which will accurately display totals from one to ten thousand,

and be re-set to zero at any time without carrying through the fulltotal for which the device is capable of computing.

Another object is to provide a counter for games as, for example,cribbage, auction bridge and hearts, in which the points scored arecounted by turning a knob counter-clockwise the number of points to bescored and then turning the knob clockwise to zero, the clockwisemovement carrying with it an indicator to register the total pointsscored in the game.

Another object is to provide a counter for games and the like in whichis provided a plurality of indicators, one of which registers the pointsscored up to one hundred and the other of which registers in hundreds upto ten thousand.

The above objects, and other objects relating to details ofconstruction, methods of operation, together with advantages to bederived therefrom will be apparent from the detailed description tofollow and the accompanying drawings which are illustrative only and notas limiting the scope of the invention.

In the drawings:

36 Fig. 1 is a plan view showing an approved form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken on the line 2 2 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the several 'parts in spacedrelation to better illusrate the manner in which they are assembled.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the operating knob, looking in thedirection of the arrows 4 4 of Fig. 2 showing the knob on the coverslightly rotated counter-clockwise from the position shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the plate comprising the unit rotor withthe brake thereon, 50 looking in the direction of the arrows 5 5 of Fig.3.

Fig. 6 is a view looking in the direction of the arrows 6 6 of Fig. 3.

Fig, 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, showing the 55 mechanism in positionat the time the indicator which totals in hundreds is moved forward onegraduation.

Referring to the numbered parts of the drawings in which like numeralsrefer to like parts throughout the several views, I have shown a 5 baseIll having a flange I I extending therearound to provide a circulardepression I2 to receive the rotatable member I3, hereinafter referredto as the hundreds rotor, which has an upstanding flange I4 formedthereon preferably provided 10 with a knurled surface I5 to assist inrotating the member I3 by hand if desired and for a purpose to behereinafter described. A rack or ratchet I 6 is firmly secured to theinner face of the member I3 and as illustrated in the drawings is pro-15 vided with one hundred teeth so that as the same is moved thedistance of one tooth, the hundreds rotor I3 will be moved a like amountand carry with it the indicator I1 which is firmly secured in the flangeportion I4 of the member I3 in any desired manner. The circular disk orplate I8 is recessed at I3 to t over and seat on the flange 20 formed onthe inner face of the hundreds rotor I3, as is clearly shown in Figs. 2and 3. The plate or disk I8 has an aperture 2I in the center 25 thereofthrough which extends a cap screw 22 having its head 23 seated in arecess 24 formed in the bottom face of the base III and with its shankextending through an aperture 25 in the base in axial alignment with theaperture 2I 30 formed in the plate I8.

Positioned above the plate I8 and concentric therewith is the disk 26,hereinafter referred to as units rotor, having a iiange 2'I around theperiphery thereof on which is secured an indi- 35 cator 28 forindicating, in a manner hereinafter to be described, the units up to onehundred to be added to the predetermined amount which may show on thedevice. Positioned above and concentric with the units rotor 26, is acover 29 40 which preferably has a sloping outer face 30 on which isembossed, printed or otherwise displayed graduations ranging from zeroto one hundred. The graduations may be as indicated in Fig. 1 or in anyother manner suitable for the 45 purpose, which graduations will bereferred to by the numeral 3I. The cover 29 is provided with anoperating knob 32 which is apertured at 33 to receive the bushing 34having a tongue 35 extending upwardly therefrom to form a stop memberwhen the cover is rotated to bring the tongue 35 into engagement withthe pin 36. Referring to Fig. 4, it will be seen that the slot 31 in thebutton 38 is somewhat wider than the pin 36 which permits the pin tohave limited move- 55 pin 36.

ment therein to enable the cover 3U to rotate further relative to thebutton 38 than if the pin 36 were stationary in the button. Fig. 4 showsthe knob 32 rotated counter-clockwise from the stop position shown inFig. l and the knob can be rotated a full revolution because the pin 36will also move in the slot 3l in the same direction far enough to permitthe stop 35 to be in alignment with the longitudinal aXis of the slot.Upon clockwise rotation of the knob 32, the stop 35 will at the end ofits movement push the pin 35 to the opposite side of the slot 3l', inwhich position the stop is again in alignment with the slot Si but onthe opposite side of the rThe pin 36 is inserted in a slot 3? eX-tending transversely of the button 3S which is screw-threaded at 39 toreceive the screwthreaded end of the cap screw 22 to provide therewithmeans for clamping the cover 29, the units rotor 26, and the disk E8mounted in the hundreds rotor i3, against displacement relative to thebase iii. The cover 2S and with it the tongue 35 is permitted to rotatesubstantially a full revolution relative to the pin 35 to enable theoperator to turn the cover in a counter-clockwise direction as a part ofthe operating cycle for a purpose which is to be hereinafter described.The cover 29 is preferably maintained in spaced relation to the unitsrotor 25 by the spacing ring 46 which also provides a drag againstinvoluntary counter-clockwise movement of the cover 29, space for theratchet 4i which also is formed with a hundred teeth therein, and thepawl 42 which is secured to the units rotor 26 by the screw or rivet 43and which is adapted to yieldingly engage with one of the teeth in theratchet 4l.

Immediately below the units rotor 26 and above the disk i8 is a brakesheave 44 which has integrally formed on its uppermost portion a bearingto support the rotor 26. The brake sheave 44 is clamped between thebutton 38 and the plate i8 and is maintained stationary with the base sothat it does not rotate with the cover 29 or the units rotor 26. A brakeiinger 45 is pivotally attached at 46 onto the bottom face of the unitsrotor 26 with its free end engaging in the recess 4l formed in the brakesheave 44 to prevent counter-clockwise movement of the units rotor 26.The brake finger 45 is maintained in position against the brake sheave44 by the spring 43 which is secured at one end thereof to the brakenger 45 and has its free end positioned behind the stop 49 formed on thebottom of the units rotor 26 in a manner to exert suiicient pressure onthe brake nger 45 to maintain the same in proper engagement with thebrake sheave 44 to prevent any backward or lost motion between therespective members in the event any pressure is brought on the unitsrotor 26 tending to cause it to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction.

From the foregoing description of the parts, it will be seen that if itis desired to indicate a certain number cr total on the dial 3|, thatthe cover 29 can be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction by the knob32 the number of points desired at which time the pawl 42 will ride overthe ratchet teeth 4i to permit the counter-clockwise movement and thenwhen the cover 29 and with it the dial 3i is moved in a clockwisedirection carrying with it the units rotor 26 the same number of pointswhich it has been moved in the counter-clockwise direction, theindicator 28 on the flange 2 of the unit rotor .26 will be moved forwardin a clockwise direction the number of' points indicated, thus showingin the first instance the number of points which the cover was moved ina counter-clockwise direction.

On repeating the operation in adding further units to the total, theindicator 28 will be movedv in a clockwise direction the total number ofpoints added; to illustrate, if the first number to be registered isten, the knob 32 would be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction tenpoints and then rotated in a clockwise direction until the dial comes torest against the stop pin 36; that is, when the tongue 35 on the bushing34 abuts against the pin. At that time the indicator 28 will have beenmoved in a clockwise direction ten points and stop on the numeral l0 ofthe dial. Then, if it is desired to add nine more points to the total,the knob would be turned nine points in a counter-clockwise directionand then rotated in a clockwise direction until the tongue 35 comes torest against the pin 36 during which time the indicator 28 will be movedforward the nine points registering on the dial at I9. This operationcan be repeated any number of times up to at which time the hundredsindicating mechanism presently to be described will operate to show thehundred as well as the units to be added to the total.

rIhe disk I8 is maintained against rotation relative to the base i0 andthe hundreds rotor I3 is prevented from moving counter-clockwiserelative to the base by the spring finger or pawl 5D which is rmlyattached to the disk i8 by the screw or rivet 5i and which has its freeend engageable with one of the teeth formed in the ratchet i6.

The mechanism for moving the hundreds rotor i3 in a clockwise directioncomprises a trigger or trip member 52 pivotally supported at 53 on aswinging arm 54 which is pivotally mounted at 55 on the disk I8. A pin56 on the bottom face oi the units rotor 26 is adapted to move againstthe outer arm 5l of the trip member 52 to swing the arm 54 on its pivot55 and carry forward with it, the spring inger 59 which engages one ofthe teeth oi the rack i6 at its free end and which is secured to theswinging arm 54 at 60. The swinging arm 54 is slotted at 6! to receive apin 62 on the disk I8 to limit the pivotal movement of said arm. Theslot 6| in the arm 54 is of the proper size and proportion so that thenger 59 carried thereon is permitted to move the hundreds rotor thedistance of one tooth formed in the ratchet i6 so that when the arm 54and with it the nger 59 have moved to the position "f i shown in Fig.'7, the pin 56 will be permitted to move past the outer arm 5'! of thetrip member 52.

I provide a latch member 63 which is pivoted at 64 on the arm 54 adaptedto engage against the free end of the inner arm 58 of the trip member 52to maintain the trip member in the position shown in Fig. 6 until themechanism has been carried forward in a clockwise direction to carryforward the hundreds rotor 26 the distance of one tooth formed on therack i6. When in that forward position the head of the pin 62 willrotate the bell crank latch 63 against the spring 61 to release the end58 of the trip member 52 so that the pin 56 will pass the trip member52, against the action of the spring 65 which has its free end behindthe post 66 carried on the swinging member 54. When the trip member 52has snapped out of engagement with the latch 63 or is releasedtherefrom, the spring 6l having one end secured to the latch 63 and theother end back of the post 68 will maintain the latch 63 in properposition to again engage the arm 58 of the trip member 52 upon the samebeing returned to the position shown in Fig. 6 by the spring 65. Aspring finger 69 carried in a post 10 on the swinging arm 54 is adaptedto be engaged by a pin II on the bottom face of the units rotor 26 asthe same is rotated toward the end of its circuit to swing the arm 54outwardly on its pivot 55 and thus carry the pawl or spring finger 59backwardly or in a counter-clockwise direction a sufficient amount topermit it to engage with the preceding tooth formed in the rack I6 andthus be in a position to again permit the pin 56 to engage with the tripmember 52 to again carry the spring finger 59 forwardly in a mannerheretofore described to move the hundreds rotor I3 forwardly onegraduation or one numeral. In moving the hundreds rotor forwardly in themanner heretofore described, the indicator I I thereon will be carriedforwardly in a clockwise direction to thereby indicate on the dial 3|the huny dreds that are to be added to the total at the time the dial isagain at rest on its stop. In other words, the total score can be readat any time the dial is at rest against its stop.

In the playing of some games, it is desirable to provide a furtherindicator in which case I prefer to recess the cover 29 at I2 to receivethe spring ring 13 on which is an indicator 'I4 which may be movedmanually either in a counterclockwise or clockwise direction. Thisindicator has been found to be of an advantage when it is desired toindicate the total by units and hundreds on the dial as heretoforedescribed and it is also desired to indicate a separate score which mayor may not be added to the total at any time during the computation ofthe totals which are to be added.

Having now described the numbered parts of my invention, the operationof the same should be readily understood. As previously stated the cover29 may be rotated by the knob 32 in a counter-clockwise direction anynumber of points up to relative to the units and hundreds rotors andthen may be rotated by the knob 32 in a clockwise direction the samenumber of points it has been rotated in a counter-clockwise directionrotating the units rotor 26 therewith. At the end of the clockwiserotation, the tongue 35 on the sleeve 34 rotatable with the cover 29will abut against the pin 36 extending outwardly from the recess 3'Iformed in the button 38 so that the cover 29 and with it the dialthereon is caused to come to rest at a fixed stop which preferably isindicated at zero. Now, if it is desired to show ten points scored, theknob 32 will be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction until thenumeral I0 is opposite the indicator 'I5 fixed on the base I@ whereuponthe knob 32 will then be rotated in a clockwise direction so that therack 4I carried by the cover 29 will cause the pawl 42 in engagementtherewith to rotate the units rotor 26 the ten points, thus carrying theindicator 28 forwardly to come to rest at the numeral Ill when the cover29 has been rotated to its stop position. This operation may be repeatedany number of times until 100 points are registered at which time thepin 56 on the bottom face of the units rotor 26 will engage with thetrip member 52 carried by the swinging member 54 pivotally mounted at 55on the disk I 8 and cause the spring nger 59 carried by the swingingmember 54 to move the ratchet I6 and with it the hundredth rotor onehundredth part of a revolution, thus causing the indicator II carried bythe kflange face thereof to move one hundredth part of a revolution andindicate on the dial that one hundred points have been added to the sumtotal. This operation may be repeated again and again, thus providing amechanism for giving a total up to 10,000 points. v

If at any time it is desired to set the mechanism at zero or at thestarting point, either or both of the units rotor 26 and the hundredsrotor I3 can be rotated manually in a clockwise direction to the zeroposition. It will thus be seen that the mechanism can be set at any timefor a new game or for the addition of new totals without carryn ingthrough the adding mechanism to the capacity of the device.

While I have shown and described my invention as comprising mechanismwhich adds totals in units and hundreds, it will be well understood tothose skilled in the art that the dial can be modified to fractions ofan inch and that the ratchets I6 and 4I can then each have 64 teeththerein in which case totals may be had in inches and in fractionalparts thereof Without in any way changing the operating parts previouslydescribed eXcept the change of the ratchets from 100 teeth to 64 teeth.In like manner, if even ccarser graduations are desired, 32 teeth, forexample, may be provided in the ratchet thus measuring the largerfractions of an inch. Also, it may be understood that if desired I mayprovide a counting device for adding totals in units in which case Iwould dispense with the hundreds rotor I3 and the operating partstherefor and then mount the units rotor 26 directly on the base I0 tooperate in the same manner as previously described.

The terms clockwise and counterclockwise are used herein merely forconvenience to indicate opposite relative directions and claimscontaining these terms are intended to be thus broad- 1y construed.

While I have shown and described one preferred mechanical embodiment ofmy invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes in details of construction and methods of manufacturemay be resorted to without departing from the spirit and substance of myinvention, the scope of which is to be measured entirely by the scope ofthe sub-joined claims.

What I claim is:

l. A game counter comprising, a base, a hun dreds rotor supported bysaid base rotatable relative thereto, a units rotor rotatable relativeto said base on an axis common to said hundreds rotor, a cover having adial thereon rotatable on an axis common to said rotors and rotatablecounter-clockwise relative to said rotors, means cooperating with saidcover and units rotor to cause said units rotor to rotate clockwise inunison with said cover, means cooperating with said units rotor andhundreds rotor to cause said hundreds rotor to rotate one point uponeach full revolution of said units rotor, and means for registering onsaid dial the number of points each of said rotors has been rotated.

2. A game counter comprising, a base, a units rotor, a hundreds rotor, acover having a dial thereon, said rotors and cover being rotatable on acommon axis on said base, and said cover being rotatablecounter-clockwise substantially a full revolution, stop means to limitthe clockwise rotation of said cover at a predetermined point,

mea-ns to cause said units rotor to rotate in a clockwise direction inunison with said cover and register on said dial the number of points sorotated, and means to cause said hundreds rotor to rotate in a clockwisedirection one point upon each full revolution of said units rotor andregister on said dial the total number of points so rotated.

3. A game counter comprising, a base, a units rotor, a hundreds rotor, acover having a dial thereon, said rotors and cover being rotatable on acommon axis on said base, and said cover being rotatablecounter-clockwise substantially a full revolution, stop means to limitthe clockwise rotation of said cover at a predetermined point, a ratchetsupported by said cover and a pawl supported by said units rotor tocause said units rotor to rotate in a clockwise direction in unison withsaid cover, means to cause said hundreds rotor to rotate in a clockwisedirection one point upon each full revolution of said units rotor, andmeans to register on said dial the total number or" points each of saidrotors is rotated.

4. A game counter comprising, a base, a units rotor, a hundreds rotor, acover having a dial thereon, said rotors and cover being rotatable on acommon axis on said base, and said cover being rotatablecounter-clockwise substantially a full revolution, means to preventcounter-clockwise movement of each of said rotors, stop means to limitthe clockwise rotation o said cover at a predetermined point, means tocause said units rotor to rotate in a clockwise direction in unison withsaid cover, means to cause said hundreds rotor to rotate in a clockwisedirection one point upon each full revolution of said units rotor, andmeans to register on said dial the total number of points each of saidrotors is rotated.

5. A game counter comprising, a base, a units rotor, a hundreds rotor, acover having a dial thereon, said rotors and cover being rotatable on acommon axis on said base, means to prevent counter-clockwise rotation ofeach of said rotors, a ratchet on said cover and a pawl on said unitsrotor operable whereby said cover may be rotated counter-clockwisesubstantially a full revolution,

stop means to limit the clockwise rotation of said cover at apredetermined point, said pawl and ratchet causing said units rotor torotate in unison with said cover in said clockwise direction, a ratchetcarried by said hundreds rotor, and means cooperating therewith to causesaid hundreds rotor to rotate one point upon each full revolution ofsaid units rotor, and means to register on said dial the number ofpoints each of said rotors is rotated.

6. A game counter comprising, a base, a units rotor, a hundreds rotor, adisk fixed against rotation relative to said base, a cover having a dialthereon rotatable on an axis common to said rotors and rotatablecounter-clockwise substantially a full revolution, stop means to limitthe clockwise rotation of said cover at a predetermined point, meanscooperating with said cover and units rotor to cause said units rotor torotate in unison in a clockwise direction with said cover, a pin on saidunits rotor, a rack on said hundreds rotor, means supported by said diskoperated by said pin on said units rotor to cause said hundreds rotor torotate one point upon each full revolution of said units rotor, andmeans to register on said dial the number of points each of said rotorsis rotated.

7. A game counter comprising, a base, a units rotor, a hundreds rotor, adisk xed against rotation relative to said rotors, a cover having a dialthereon rotatable on an axis common to said rotors and rotatablecounter-clockwise substantially a full revolution, stop means to limitthe clockwise rotation of said cover at a predetermined point, means tocause said units rotor to rotate in a clockwise direction in unison withsaid cover, a pin carried by said units rotor, trip mechanism carried bysaid disk, a ratchet carried by said hundreds rotor, said pin actingupon said trip mechanism to cause rotation of said ratchet and hundredsrotor one point upon each full revolution of said units rotor, and meansto register on said dial the number of points each of said rotors isrotated.

JAY D. MCCLURE.

